The Church & The Redwoods 1

The Redwood Forest is simply astounding. Located on the west coast of California, no more than twenty miles inland, the Redwoods are the world’s largest trees. That’s the most obvious thing about them - they’re massive. But there is so much more to these wonderful trees. I believe that God reveals himself by “General Revelation”. By this, I mean that the Lord has put His glory on display in all that He has created. General Revelation is God’s communication of Himself through nature. Psalm 19:1-2 affirms this, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge."

Of course General Revelation should never take the place of or undermine “Written Revelation” – God’s communication of Himself through His written Word. General Revelation is meant to compliment Written Revelation, not take its' place. Yet, it is in nature that we often see the truths of Scripture confirmed in glorious and surprising detail. The Redwood Forest is like this. If we look closely, we find that the Redwoods have much to teach us about the Gospel and especially about the Church. As the winds blow through their high branches we hear the Redwoods whisper, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Greater is He… Greater is He… We are great because He is great. Greater is He that is in you…”

Over the last few weeks in The Well, we have been looking at what lessons the Redwoods teach us. Here are a few things that we have learned…

1. The Redwoods are the Tallest Living “Physical” Organism in the World

Redwoods can grow up to a height of 370 feet! Wow! Did you know that there is no taller living organism than the California Redwood. They are immense!

Likewise, the Church is immense. The Church is the most powerful Living “Spiritual” Organism in the World.

There is no greater spiritual dynamic on the planet than the Church. Christ has married Himself to His Bride and through her He pours Grace upon the world. This is not because the Church is huge in number. The scripture tells us that where “two are three are gathered together in my name, there I (Christ) am in the midst of them also.” This means that even when the Church is small in number, it is formidable, because Christ is in their midst. We are powerful, not by virtue of our numbers or our passion or our faith or our money, but we are powerful by virtue of the one who dwells so powerfully in and among us. The Church is Immense because Christ is Immense!

How little we believe this beautiful truth! The modern Church seems to operate on a “how big can we get” basis. We believe that our power rests in big numbers, big buildings, and big dollars. This is such a worldly approach. The Redwoods are not impressive because they are many. In truth, the Redwood Forest is relatively small in number, yet they’re splendor and prodigious size is undeniable. The Redwoods are impressive because they are a mystery. There is nothing else in the world like them. There is something at work in these phenomenal trees that produces a strength and enduring vibrancy that is absolutely unparalleled. So it is with the Church. We are great because there is Someone great working in and through us. This is what baffles an unbelieving world. The Church grows strong without money, without buildings, without numbers, without advertising, without strategy. All the Beloved needs is Her Bridegroom dwelling in Her midst. When She exalts Christ, the Church is exalted with Him! Listen to the wind rustling through the high needless of the Redwood. Listen and you will hear them sing to us…”Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world…Greater is He that is in you…Greater is He…Greater is He.”

May Christ Jesus richly dwell within you, Beloved.

To learn more about the mystery of the Redwoods, click the link below…

http://www.treesofmystery.net/sequoia.htm